Shazier stays in hospital for tests on spinal injury
NFL suspends pair after illegal hits in Steelers’ 23-20 win.
Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier will remain in a Cincinnati hospital until at least today to undergo further testing on a spinal injury suffered in the first quarter of Monday night’s win over the Bengals.
Shazier left Paul Brown Stadium on a stretcher less than four minutes into his team’s 23-20 victory over Cincinnati following a tackle that left the 25-year-old writhing on the turf, his legs motionless. He underwent extensive testing overnight, with the team saying Shazier’s injury did not require surgery “at this time.”
The Steelers had hoped Shazier would be able to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The timetable has been pushed back at least 24 to 48 hours.
While the severity of the injury will remain unknown until the swelling subsides, the relentlessly upbeat Shazier offered a bit of hope Tuesday evening.
“Thank you for the prayers,” Shazier tweeted. “Your support is uplifting to me and my family. #SHALIEVE”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, general manager Kevin Colbert and team president Art Rooney II visited Shazier before heading back to Pittsburgh. Tomlin called their conversation “normal” and that Shazier was concerned about the well-being of the rest of the team, including good friend and fellow inside linebacker Vince Williams.
“Ryan is a legitimate leader,” Tomlin said. “He’s asking about the guys, Vince particularly. I told him about the guys. We talked about how the game unfolded.”
Shazier’s injury came on a relatively innocuous-looking play. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton hit Josh Malone for a short 3-yard gain, with Shazier hitting Malone square in the back. Shazier, in his fourth season after being taken in the first round of the 2014 draft, led with his head on the tackle.
He immediately rolled over onto his back, raising his hands in the air while his legs went limp.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said on his weekly radio spot on 93.7 The Fan that he’d heard “encouraging things” but that Shazier was “not out of the woods.”
Pittsburgh appeared to spend much of the first half in a daze following Shazier’s exit, falling behind by 17 points before rallying to win their seventh straight on Chris Boswell’s field goal on the final snap.
The teams combined for 239 penalty yards and five personal fouls, including a taunting penalty on Steelers rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for a blindside hit on Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict that resulted in Smith-Schuster being hit with a one-game suspension. Bengals safety George Iloka was also suspended one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers receiver Antonio Brown.
Giants: Eli Manning is being reinstated as the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys, NFL Network reported. The decision comes a day after coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese were fired. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was named interim coach.
Patriots: The NFL denied tight end Rob Gronkowski’s appeal of a one-game suspension for a late, gratuitous hit to the head of Bills defensive back Tre’Davious White. The league announced the decision of appeals officer Derrick Brooks on Tuesday.
Gronkowski will serve his suspension against Miami on Monday night.
Bears: Placed right guard Kyle Long on injured reserve for the second straight season. The three-time Pro Bowler has been trying to play through a left shoulder injury he suffered in 2016.
Falcons: Guard Andy Levitre will miss a game for the first time in his NFL career. The nine-year veteran won’t play Thursday night against the Saints because of a triceps injury and will be replaced by Ben Garland.
Bills: Placed wide receiver Jordan Matthews (knee) and defensive end Shaq Lawson (ankle) on injured reserve, ending their seasons.
Rams: Coach Sean McVay expects to have linebacker Alec Ogletree available against the Eagles on Sunday after he left a game against Arizona with a hyperextended left elbow.
Broncos: Placed defensive end Derek Wolfe on season-ending injured reserve with a neck injury.
Monday’s Games Tuesday’s Games
(At) Raptors 126, Suns 113: Toronto ran its leaguebest home record to 9-1 behind Kyle Lowry’s 20 points and 10 assists. DeMar DeRozan also scored 20 points. Suns guard Devin Booker had to be carried off the floor by two teammates after suffering an apparent leg injury with 2:40 remaining. Booker scored 19 points. The Raptors have scored 100 points in 10 straight games.
(At) Thunder 100, Jazz 94: Russell Westbrook scored 34 points in his seventh triple-double of the season, and Oklahoma City rallied from 17 points down in the second half. Westbrook finished with 14 assists and 13 rebounds. Paul George scored 21 points and Steven Adams had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Thunder, who won their third straight.
Wizards at Trail Blazers: Late
NBA notes
Warriors: Guard Stephen Curry, who sprained his right ankle Monday night, will miss at two weeks, the club announced. An MRI exam found no structural damange.